Car safety has just taken a giant leap with the APROSYS project which aims to reduce injury risk in side impact collisions. APROSYS, an acronym for Advanced Protection System, is an initiative of the Fraunhofer researchers who have teamed up with various universities, car manufacturers and suppliers to make this project a successful one, and they almost seem to have reached there.
If you are already asking how, the researchers have developed an early warning system, how early, 200 milliseconds. Yes, that is all, the system has to protect the occupants by stabilizing the car door with a bolt and a metal box. Coming to how, this entire system works, first, the stereo cameras and the radar sensors continuously scan the outside road environment and the car itself for a possible crash. This is done it with a software program that has been developed by Dr. Dieter Willersinn and his team of researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute.
Once the warning has been sounded, the computer releases a pulse of electricity that heats up the shape memory wire, which acts like a switch and bends a wire to release a spring. This spring slackens and releases an integrated steel bolt in the seat which combines with a metal body in the car’s door and makes the door strong enough to absorb the collision and save your skin. All in less than 200 milliseconds. Incredible is an understatement. The mechanical system has been designed by Bjorn Seipel and his team.
Source: ScienceDaily
